When Louisiana became a state, the large, sparsely settled area between the Atchafalaya and Sabine rivers was designated [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry Parish]]. As the parish became more populated, settlers began to complain about the long horse or wagon journey they had to make to Opelousas. By 1840, the area had enough settlers that the Louisiana Legislature took note of their complaints and created a new parish out of the southwest corner of [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry Parish]]. The new parish was named Calcasieu in honor of the region's principal river. <ref name="LCAP">Benoit, Robert. "The Division of Imperial Calcasieu." Lake Charles American Press. 15 Jan. 1989.</ref>

The name Calcasieu (pronounced Cal-ca-shoo) comes from the Atakapan word, "quelqueshue", meaning "crying eagle". It was originally the name of an Atakapa chief, but became the name given to what was formerly the Rio Hondo River (Rio Stondo or "Deep River"), now the Calcasieu River. The parish then inherited this name. <ref name="Wikipedia">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcasieu_Parish,_Louisiana Wikipedia]</ref>

The name Calcasieu (pronounced Cal-ca-shoo) comes from the Atakapan word, "quelqueshue", meaning "crying eagle". It was originally the name of an Atakapa chief, but became the name given to what was formerly the Rio Hondo River (Rio Stondo or "Deep River"), now the Calcasieu River. The parish then inherited this name. <ref name="Wikipedia">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcasieu_Parish,_Louisiana Wikipedia]</ref>

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==== Parent Parish ====

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This original Calcasieu Parish, known as "Imperial Calcasieu Parish," included most of the five modern parishes of Calcasieu, [[Cameron Parish, Louisiana|Cameron]], [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard]], [[Allen Parish, Louisiana|Allen]] and [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis]].

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=== Boundary Changes ===

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In 1870, Imperial Calcasieu underwent the first of two reorganizations. On 16 March 1870, Louisiana Gov. Henry Clay Warmoth signed an act providing for the creation of [[Cameron Parish, Louisiana|Cameron Parish]] from land then lying in both Calcasieu and Vermilion parishes.

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The May 3, 1912, issue of the American Press reported: "In one of the most representative meetings ever held in the state, as well as one of the most harmonious, it was decided at the parish convention in this city [Lake Charles] last night to divide Imperial Calcasieu parish into four parishes. Amicable agreements were made upon the lines of division."

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*'''1840--'''Calcasieu Parish was created 24 March 1840 from [[St. Landry Parish, Louisiana|St. Landry ]]Parish, one of the original nineteen civil parishes established by the Legislature in 1807. '''Parish seat:''' Lake Charles <ref name="Handybook">''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref>

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The divisions were as follows:

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==== Boundary Changes ====

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*Part set off for [[Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana|Jefferson Davis]] Parish 12 June 1912.

*[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/LA/Calcasieu/state.html Calcasieu Parish places on the National Register of Historic Places]

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*[http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/calendar.htm On This Day in Southwest Louisiana History]

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*[http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/calcasieu/history/diary/ Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary] - Thomas Rigmaiden, Imperial Calcasieu's first school teacher, kept a diary from 1836 to 1865. The diary entries are a great resource about the people and events of early Calcasieu Parish.

*[http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=637 Confederate Pension Applications] - The Louisiana Secretary of State's searchable database contains over 49,000 names that were included in pension applications submitted to the Board of Pension Commissioners.

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*[http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/calcasieu/military/ Military Records on USGenWeb]

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*[http://www.accessgenealogy.com/worldwar/louisiana/calcasieu1.htm Calcasieu Parish, World War II Casualties, Army and Air Force]

==== Newspapers ====

==== Newspapers ====

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{{RAOGKobituary}}

{{RAOGKobituary}}

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[http://www.americanpress.com/ Lake Charles American Press] - Online subscriptions or day passes to the ePaper allow users to search the entire archives.

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*[http://www.americanpress.com/ Lake Charles American Press] - Online subscriptions or day passes to the ePaper allow users to search the entire archives.

*[http://www.library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/index.htm McNeese State University Archives and Special Collections]

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[http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Home/Archives/ResearchLibrary/VitalRecords/LouisianaDeaths/tabid/640/Default.aspx Louisiana Secretary of State] - Search the Louisiana death records database and order certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Louisiana over 50 years ago. Search by deceased's name, parish, or month of death.

'''Birth records''' going back 100 years are housed by the Calcasieu Parish Health Unit. Phone: 337-478-6020.

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=== Libraries ===

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'''Death records''' - [http://www.sos.louisiana.gov/Home/Archives/ResearchLibrary/VitalRecords/LouisianaDeaths/tabid/640/Default.aspx Louisiana Secretary of State] - Search the Louisiana death records database and order certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Louisiana over 50 years ago. Search by deceased's name, parish or month of death.

*[http://www.swlahistory.org/ The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association] - The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association (SWLHA) encourages the study of history in Louisiana, with particular emphasis on the history and traditions of Southwest Louisiana.

== Websites ==

== Websites ==

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*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitydetails&subject=192962&subject_disp=Louisiana%2C+Calcasieu&columns=*,0,0 FamilySearch.org] Family History Library Catalog for Calcasieu Parish.

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*{{FHL|Louisiana%2C+Calcasieu|subject|disp=FamilySearch.org}} Family History Library Catalog for Calcasieu Parish.

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*[http://theusgenweb.org/la/calcasieu/ The Calcasieu Parish LAGenWeb Project], a member of [[LAGenWeb|The LAGenWeb Project]], an affiliate of [[USGenWeb|The USGenWeb Project]].

*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/marriages/louisiana/calcasieu.htm Calcasieu Parish Marriage Project] - transcriptions of marriage applications and other marriage records as recorded in the parish court house and state archives.

Anyone can be a contributor. Contributors are people who write and edit the pages for FamilySearch Wiki. Thanks to the following contributors for helping to build this page (in alpha order). Help grow the wiki and add content today!

Parish Courthouse

Parish Clerk has marrige, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1910.[1]

Calcasieu Parish Organization

Historical Facts

When Louisiana became a state, the large, sparsely settled area between the Atchafalaya and Sabine rivers was designated St. Landry Parish. As the parish became more populated, settlers began to complain about the long horse or wagon journey they had to make to Opelousas. By 1840, the area had enough settlers that the Louisiana Legislature took note of their complaints and created a new parish out of the southwest corner of St. Landry Parish. The new parish was named Calcasieu in honor of the region's principal river. [2]

The name Calcasieu (pronounced Cal-ca-shoo) comes from the Atakapan word, "quelqueshue", meaning "crying eagle". It was originally the name of an Atakapa chief, but became the name given to what was formerly the Rio Hondo River (Rio Stondo or "Deep River"), now the Calcasieu River. The parish then inherited this name. [3]

Boundary Changes

In 1870, Imperial Calcasieu underwent the first of two reorganizations. On 16 March 1870, Louisiana Gov. Henry Clay Warmoth signed an act providing for the creation of Cameron Parish from land then lying in both Calcasieu and Vermilion parishes.

The May 3, 1912, issue of the American Press reported: "In one of the most representative meetings ever held in the state, as well as one of the most harmonious, it was decided at the parish convention in this city [Lake Charles] last night to divide Imperial Calcasieu parish into four parishes. Amicable agreements were made upon the lines of division."

Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary - Thomas Rigmaiden, Imperial Calcasieu's first school teacher, kept a diary from 1836 to 1865. The diary entries are a great resource about the people and events of early Calcasieu Parish.

Maps

Military

Confederate Pension Applications - The Louisiana Secretary of State's searchable database contains over 49,000 names that were included in pension applications submitted to the Board of Pension Commissioners.

Taxation

Vital Records

Birth records going back 100 years are housed by the Calcasieu Parish Health Unit. Phone: 337-478-6020.

Death records - Louisiana Secretary of State - Search the Louisiana death records database and order certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Louisiana over 50 years ago. Search by deceased's name, parish or month of death.

Thanks to the Calcasieu Wiki Contributors

Anyone can be a contributor. Contributors are people who write and edit the pages for FamilySearch Wiki. Thanks to the following contributors for helping to build this page (in alpha order). Help grow the wiki and add content today!